I doubt it would be easy to put a lock up converter in a power glide. You could go converter less and put a valve in to control line pressure to be able to take off. Many circle track race cars use this setup and all the parts are available commercially.

 

Yes, but it is VERY expensive, requiring an aftermarket case, a custom converter and other special parts.
Some of the NO-Prep racers like seen on recent Street Outlaws No Prep Kings programming are using this, the latest Radial vs the World race winner is using this tech,....but we are talking $7,000+ for this set-up.

If your asking is there a low cost way to do it with a stock case Powerglide, no there isn't. The hydraulic circuitry is not present in the case passages or valvebody, nor the input shaft.

 

Thanks for the input.

 

Does your project require a torque converter at? Some racers and boaters simply replace the torque converter with an inexpensive splined shaft setup...

 

I wish it was that easy. Its on my Weasel tracked vehicle. I only use drive but the TC has slip and runs the engine rpm's high. The rear sprocket is around 13" dia. and the rear end has 2 speeds, low and high.
I have twice the HP and torque over the stock engine that was a Stude flathead. I now run a chevy 250ci six with the PG trans.

Thanks for all the ideas,
Watercooled

 

What passes for low in a Powerglide is second gear anywhere else. The torque converter slip is what makes low gear. It's like running a high stall converter ahead of a two speed transmission that has second and high gear only. Low speeds and steep terrain would make this a real PIA because you end up teasing the high stall all the time thus the engine spins up a lot compared to speed over the ground.

Lock up converters use a lot different plumbing in the valve body and pump it would not be cost effective to try that on a Power Glide.

The only good solutions I can think of are to replace the PG with a TH350 which will give you a tighter stall converter and a genuine low gear to start with. Later the TH350c from 81 to 84 have a lock up converter. After that the 700R4 comes in which gives you 4 speeds and a lock up converter, it has a deeper low than the TH350's with an overdrive 4th; second and third are the same as the TH350 series. All of these bolt to the Chevy inline 6. As 700R4's go the 87 to 92's are the best they have a lot of fixes that make them quite robust, the early ones 85/86 have problems. The TH350C and the 700R4s, also, known as 4L60 with no E suffix do not use a computer and lock up can be manually switched for your control or automatic with a factory or TCI aftermarket controls, there are simpler and cheaper controls but how compatible that is with how you use a Weasel I don't know. The 4L60E is an all electronic version of the 700R4/4L60 but it needs a computer controller to function, I only point this out as when you go shopping this is stuff you'll run into and need to know the jargon before you're eyeball deep.

The TH400 will also bolt to the inline Chevy 6, it has three speeds and is robust beyond belief if you work the poop out of the Weasel this can be a consideration.

Keep in mind that non Chevy GM transmissions know as BCPO for Buick, Cadillac, Pontiac, Oldsmobile all have the same transmission designations but use a different bellhousing to engine bolt pattern. GMC will also use the Chevy pattern if they use a Chevy engine which shouldn't be a problem but very old GMCs did use other division engines so look before leaping. All Chevy inline 6's and V8's share the same bellhousing to engine bolt pattern early inline 4's made from the inline 6's not foreign or world engines that GM stuck in some smaller stuff, also, and the 90 degree V6's (Chevy only) so these can be transmission sources as well.

Bogie

 

You guys do realize a Weasel is a small track vehicle and the original top speed was 38 mph.. Looks to me like the originals had a manual transmission and clutch arrangement.. Like from 1942..

Do you have an M-29 or M29C?

Sam

 

Yep know that but he put Chevy 6 with a Power Glide in it now the problem is with it's characteristic low speed the the slip and slide Power Glide is doing what that saying implies. It seems the shortest distance out is really a TH350, however, the deep low of the 700R4 might be useful with a tight converter. I don't really think this will need to use a locking converter and will never go fast enough to use the overdrive.

Bogie

 

Its a M-29C
Ford 6 engines are what most use with auto trans (c4?) I wanted a 194 ci chevy but didn't find one.

 

Bogie,
check out youtube on a weasel with 302 ford and auto trans. He has big nuggets running fast across the snow kicking up a rooster tail behind the rig.
Looks he is ripping about 45-50 mph.

 

Is this the weasel-type vehicle you were referring to?:

 

4 days later but I just watched that video with the Weasel / 302. That would be a kick in the arse to cruise around in.

 

There is one other "option" to consider in regards to using a Powerglide, and that is a Gear vendors overdrive unit that attached in place of the extension housing. I was really surprised they even made them for the aluminum Powerglides, but they do. All it takes is money. junior stocker.